Brush and associated dispensing means for powder material



` BRUSH AND AssocIATED DISPENSING xvIEANE` FOR POWDER MATERIAL Filed Aug. 1e, 12940A 7 v .jqa/962114,"

ATTOR EYS Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH AND ASSOCIATED DISP-ENSIIGl MEANS FOR POVDER, lVIATERIAL 1 Claim;

My invention relates to a brush having means associated therewith by which powder material may readily be dispensed or scattered upon a surface to be cleaned.

My invention has further reference toV an associated brush and chamber for the powder material, the chamber being provided with a dispensing opening which, normally, is sealed so that water does not enter said chamber even though the brush be entirely submerged in water.

My invention has furtherV reference to a combined arrangement of the character stated wherein the chamber is provided with a normally sealed dispensing opening and, in addi'- tion, with a filling opening normally sealed by a closure cap which may readily be detached when it becomes desirable to replenish the supply of the powder material in the aforesaid chamber.

Various other objects, advantages' and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. y

My invention resides in the brush arrangement, sealed dispensing means, features and combinations of the character hereafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention yand rfor an illustration of some of the forms thereof; reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing,` in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing alorush and associated dispensing means as constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the brush of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a modification of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, taken on the line -dof Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view,

partly in elevation, showing a modication'of` the invention; and Y Fig. 7 is an elevational View, partly in section, showing a modification of the invention.

It is common practice, when cleaning or scrubbing a floor or other surface with a brush, fora can of cleaning or scrubbing powder to be at hand'. After the brush has been usedv for some time, it is laid down, the can of powder picked up and some of the powder sprinkled on 55- the surface to be cleaned'. Thereupon, the can of powder is set down, the brush picked up and the brushing continued, these operations being` alternately proceeded with as longV as mayV bel necessary: By my invention, there i s providedA combined brush and powder holder which greatly simplies and speeds up the ordinary brushing or scrubbing operation,

For an illustration of my novel device, refer-A ence is to be had to Figs. land 2 whereinthere is shown a handle or back H formed fromarelv atively thick base I; and a relatively thinner wall4 2, the base l and vwall 2 being spaced lapart so as to form a chamber 3. Preferably,al' tho-ugh not necessarily, theV base I and wall 2 are molded or otherwise suitably formed from an artificial resin, a phenol condensation product or the like. The chamber 3 is adapted to contain a quantity of a cleaning- 01 scrubbing powder or pulverized material, such as that known as Old Dutch Cleanser, or the like. Hereinafter, powder or material o-f this character is generically referred to asr fcleaning powder.

As clearly indicated 0n the4 drawing, thehanldle H is of minimum width in the central area thereof, the widthV increasing tosome extent toward each end of said handle H. Furthermore, the wall 2 in the areathereof at one end of the brush, comprises, preferably, a relatively plane, fiat section, said wall 2, inthe area thereof toward the other end of the brush, preferably, slopingupwardly to thereby increase the depth of the chamber 3. 'Ihe outer surfaces of the base I and wall 2 should be of smooth, curved configuration, as illustrated. With an arrangement of this character, the person using the brush may convenientlyY grasp the same by applying the palm of the hand to the aforesaid plane,V flat section of the wall 2, the thumb and. fingers being applied to the respective Opposite sides of the handle H. y

In accordance with one form of the invention, a lling opening together with a closure cap ar'- rangement therefor is provided for the chamber 3 and, preferably, this lling opening is formed in theV above noted-plane, flat section of the wall 2. Thus, as shown in Fig. Y2, saidwall 2 comprises a circula-r filling Opening 4j defined by a thickenedsection 2a of said wallv 2, this thick# ened section 2a having a plurality of inwardly projecting members 2b disposedV thereon in symmetrical spaced relation, and said thickened sction 2a comprising a flangedseat 2cffo`rmed above said members 2b.

Coactable with the iillingl opening 4 is a closure cap 5 which comprises a circular plug section 5a, a flanged section 5b and a handle member 5c. Projecting outwardly from the plug section 5a are a plurality of members 5d disposed thereon in symmetrical spaced relation.

As will be understood from the drawing, movement of the closure cap axially of the filling opening 4 to closing position causes the spaces between the members 2b of the filling opening to snugly receive the members 5d of the closure cap, and the spaces between the members 5d of the closure cap to snugly receive the members 2b of the filling opening. With the closure cap in seated position, the members 5d of the closure cap are just below the members 2b of the filling opening. The upper surfaces of the closure cap members 5d are suitably inclined 'and the same is true of the lower surfaces of the filling opening members 2b. Accordingly, with the closure cap seated in the filling opening, rotation of the same through a small angle causes the coacting sets .of members 2b and 5d to exercise a cam effect whereby the closure cap is forced downwardly t thereby compress a rubber gasket 6, which previously has been seated on the flanged section b of the closure cap, against the flanged seat 2c of the filling opening.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that, with the described closure cap arrangement, the filling opening 2 may be sealed effectively against the passage or seepage of liquid therethrough. In lieu of the described arrangement, it will be understood that other equivalent closure cap arrangements may be utilized.

Further in accordance with the invention, a dispensing opening is provided for the chamber 3 and, preferably, this dispensing opening is formed adjacent the end of the handle H removed from the filling opening 2. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the wall 2 comprises a circular dispensing opening 'I adapted to be sealed against the passage of liquid by a semispherical plug 8 formed from rubber, or equivalent. 'The member 8 is carried by one end of a lever 9 pivoted at II) upon a pair of spaced membersY II upstanding from the wall 2. The lever 9 should be positively biased in a counter-clockwisedirection, Fig. 2, and, to this end, there may be utilized a spring I2 which is wound around 4a pin I3 supported by opposite sides of said Ylever 9, one end of the spring engaging the upper surface of the Wall 2 and the other end thereof engaging thelower surface of the finger piece 9a.

As the lever 9 is shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, itV

will be understood that the spring I2 cooperates with the lever 9 to effectively hold the plug 8 seated in the opening 1. By pressure applied to the linger piece 9a, the lever 9 may readily be swung to a position causing the dispensing opening 'I to be opened. It will be understood that equivalent arrangements other than the one shown may be utilized for sealing the dispensing opening 1.

lSecured in suitable manner to the lower surface of the base I of the handle H are the tufts or bunches of bristles B which may be of the usual character used in brushes of the character described. These may be secured to the base I during the molding operation or otherwise as may be desirable.

In operation, the closure cap 5 is removed and a desired quantity of cleaning powder passed into thek chamber 3 through the filling opening 4.

Thereupon, the closure cap 5 is returned to and locked in its sealing position. The brush is now in condition for use. With the lever 9 held in closed position by the spring I2, the entire brush may be dipped into a pail or other receptacle containing water. When this is done, by reason of the seals existing, respectively, at the filling opening 4 and the dispensing opening 1, there is no leakage of water into the chamber 3 even though the brush is moved entirely under water. As use of the brush continues, the operator, from time to time, may depress the finger piece 9a, this being conveniently located near the operlators index finger, and, after partially or entirely inverting the brush, sprinkle such amount of the cleaning powder material as may be desired upon the surface being cleaned. As often as desirable, the brush may be dipped into the supply of water, and,'each time that this is done, it will be understood that the plug 8 should be in sealing position as regards the dispensing opening 1. From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the chamber V3 may readily be filled with cleaning powder as often as required and that such powder may conveniently be dispensed as the cleaning operation proceeds.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I have illustrated a form of the invention wherein the brush comprises a plate or member I5 which, for example,

may be formed from wood or equivalent, the

tufts of bristles B being held in the plate I5. in a manner known in the art. Adapted to be associated with the plate I5 is a chamber or receptacle IS for the cleaning powder, this chamber I 6 being provided with a dispensing arrangement, and with a filling arrangement if desired, of the general character hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

In accordance with the novel feature of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. the bottom wall I1 of the chamber I6 maybe provided with a dovetail groove I'Ia, the top surface of the plate I5 being provided with a dovetail rib I5a adapted to interlock with the groove I'Ia. As shown in Fig. 5, the dovetail rib I5a may taper from end-to-end thereof and the dovetail groove I'Ia may be of similar tapered configuration. With such an arrangement, as will be understood, the chamber wall I'I may be associated with the plate I5 by effecting relative endwise movement of said wall and plate after the rib I5a, has been alined axially with the groove I'Ia, the rib I5a. engaging the groove Illa so as to securely unite the parts together. It will be understood that the taper of the rib I5a and the groove I'Ia should be such that the rib comes into binding relation on the Walls of the groove at the time that the chamber I6 is properly positioned on the plate I5.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modified arrangement which comprises a .bottom bristle-supporting plate I8 formed from wood or equivalent, the top surface of this plate I8, in conjunction with a chamber-forming wall I9 secured thereto in suitable manner, defining the chamber in which the cleaning powder is disposed. The plate I8 comprises a dispensing opening or passage I8a adapted to be closed by a tapered plug 2,0 of rubber or the like, this plug 20 being carried by a stem 2I which extends vertically through the powder-containing chamber and terminates in an upper knob 22 slidable in an opening extending through the member I9 in vertical alinement with the dispensing opening I8a. The plug 2IJ together with itsstem 2| and knob 22 shouldbe suitably biased in an upward direction, as by a spiral spring 23 encircling the stem 2|, the lower section of said spring 23 engaging the top surface of the plate I8 and the upper section of the spring 23 engaging a member 24 formed from rubber or the like, the outer edge of this member 24 being anchored in an interior ange |911 of the member I9 and the inner surface of said member 24 engaging and being secured to the lower surface of the knob 22 so as to seal the passage or opening in which the knob 22 is slidable.

It will be understood that the knob 22 should be positioned on the brush structure in somewhat the same relation as is the nger piece 9a in the form of the invention hereinbefore described. Obviously, when it becomes desirable to dispense a quantity of the cleaning powder from the powder chamber, it is necessary merely to depress the knob 22 by nger action while holding the brush more or less in its normal scrubbing position. With the knob 22 thus depressed, the dispensing opening 18a is open for the downward passage therethrough of the cleaning powder which comes to rest upon the oor or other surface being cleaned. With an arrangement of the character described in Fig. 6,

it will probably be desirable for the plate I 8 to be free from tufts of the bristles B in the immediate Vicinity of the dispensing passage I8a.

Although my invention has been hereinbefore described in connection with a chamber or receptacle for the cleaning powder which is to have a filling opening adapted to be sealed by a detachable closure cap, it shall be understood that the invention is not to be thus limited. For example, as shown generally in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a suitable arrangement may be provided for detachably retaining the powder-containing chamber to the bristle-supporting plate of the brush. With such an arrangement, when the powdersupporting chamber becomes empty, the same may be readily removed from the bristle-supporting plate and a new filled powder-containing chamber associated with said plate. Obviously, with such an arrangement, the provision of a filling opening and a detachable closure cap therefor is neither necessary nor required.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7, there is illustrated a modified handle or back Hl having a lower groove or channel |b formed therein, this groove or channel, preierably, extending entirely around the lower surface of said handle or back Hl. In lieu of the tufts of bristles, there is associated, preferably in detachable relation, with the channel 15b, a scrubbing or polishing structure S such, for example, as artificial sponge, the structure S being preformed to provide an upstanding flanged section s adapted to resiliently embrace the surfaces forming the channel I5b. Obviously, the structure S may be attached to the handle I-Il otherwise than in the resilient manner noted above.

Aside from the foregoing, the handle HI is of substantially the same character as the handle H previously described.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a brush of the character described, a base, a scrubbing or polishing structure secured to the lower side of said base and extending substantially throughout the length thereof, a wall formed integrally with said base at the side thereof opposite said structure, said Wall being coextensive in length with said base and forming therewith a chamber for cleaning powder or the like, said integral wall having a powderdispensing opening formed therein, means for sealing said dispensing opening to prevent the passage of water into said chamber when the brush is submerged, a pivoted lever to which said sealing means is secured, means for biasing said lever to a position wherein it holds said sealing means in sealing position with respect to said dispensing opening, said opening, said sealing means, said lever and said biasing means being located between one end of Said brush and the middle thereof, said integral base serving as a handle for the brush and being adapted to be gripped by the hand of the user in such manner that the palm of the hand rests upon said integral base in the area thereof removed from said lever and with one finger of the hand conveniently located to operate said lever.

LYDIA MEAD. 

